The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, warning that the move could destabilise the state and damage the party’s standing.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, said the APC recognised the constitutional independence of the legislature but would not support what it described as an unnecessary resort to impeachment against an APC-led government.
“Our position as at today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy,” the statement said.
The party cautioned lawmakers, particularly its members in the Assembly, against yielding to external pressure capable of plunging Rivers State into renewed political turmoil.
It argued that unresolved disputes inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not be allowed to resurface within the APC.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP are allowed to resurface in our great party,” Nwauju said.
Responding to claims that the impeachment threat is linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule, a N1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the National Assembly in May 2025.
It clarified that the budget was approved by the Senate on 25 June and the House of Representatives on 22 July and is expected to run until August 2026.
The APC said the governor is under no constitutional obligation to present a supplementary budget and stated that the constitution allows a six-month spending window into a new fiscal year.
“Let it be known that our party will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilised through fratricidal disagreements,” the statement added.
Governor Fubara has yet to comment publicly on the latest development, however, the Rivers APC has called on the Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process, warning that it could undermine governance and stall development in the state.
The party’s reaction followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday.
During plenary presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations against the governor, relying on Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Jack outlined seven allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature. The notice was signed by 26 lawmakers.
Amaewhule said the allegations would be forwarded to the governor within seven days.
In a separate move, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a notice of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu.
The allegations include reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s duties, and the alleged approval of budgets outside the recognised legislature.
The development is the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than a year.
A similar move in March 2025 followed a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which prompted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
At the time, Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as administrator.
Fubara later returned to office after a reconciliation process brokered by the president.
In December, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, saying the move was necessary to align fully with the president.
His defection followed the earlier movement of some Rivers lawmakers to the ruling party.
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